Soon, the group set off again towards Jiulong Mountain.
Xie Jingrun rode his horse alongside the imperial carriage.
Inside the imperial carriage, Rong Qingqing was talking about the part where Duan Yu and Qiao Feng became sworn brothers.
Her voice wasn't as gentle and refined as that of a typical young lady; it possessed a crispness and decisiveness unlike that of other women, giving her a very straightforward quality. Yet, when she told stories, she could also evoke strong emotions in the listener.
Xie Jingrun didn't really pay attention to what she was saying, but her voice still reached his ears, making him feel a little itchy, like he was being scratched by a cat.
Lost in thought, he caught a glimpse of Feng Mo riding up from behind, slowing down as he reached the other side of the imperial carriage.
Thinking of his earlier attentiveness to Rong Qingqing, Xie Jingrun's eyes flashed with displeasure.
So Feng Mo is now following the imperial carriage like a fly, just to listen to Rong Qingqing tell stories?
This realization made Xie Jingrun feel very uncomfortable, as if his things were being coveted by others, which made him inexplicably irritable.
"elder brother."
Just then, Xie Jingxuan rode up on horseback, his attitude warm and friendly, as if the two brothers had never had any grudges and had a deep affection for each other.
Xie Jingrun glanced at him indifferently, without replying.
Xie Jingxuan didn't mind and moved closer to him, but his ears were listening to the voices coming from the imperial carriage.
Upon seeing this, Xie Jingrun finally understood his purpose.
Another person drawn in by Rong Qingqing's story!
He scoffed coldly and warned, "Without the Emperor's order, no unauthorized personnel are allowed to approach the Imperial Carriage. You'd better step back!"
Upon hearing this, Xie Jingxuan chuckled and said, "Brother, I'm not just anyone, I'm your younger brother."
Xie Jingrun's eye twitched slightly, feeling a bit nauseous.
In the past, when his father was alive, Xie Jingxuan was always disrespectful to him and never treated him as an elder brother. Now that his father was calling him "brother" this and "brother" that, he felt no joy at all. Instead, he felt disgusted and nauseous.
"Are you going to get lost or not?" He drew his embroidered spring knife, his eyes sharp and icy.
Xie Jingxuan hunched his neck, feeling his ribs, which had just healed, start to hurt again.
"Why are you being so fierce? Do you think I want to be with you?" He snorted coldly, pulled on the reins, and retreated to the back.
At this moment, inside the imperial carriage, Situ Jin was dozing with his eyes closed when his trusted confidante, Granny Hong, bowed and entered.
"Is there anything unusual ahead?" Situ Jin asked.
"Your Majesty, there is indeed a strange occurrence," Granny Hong replied respectfully.
Situ Jin opened her eyes. "What strange thing is this?"
Granny Hong said with a strange expression, "His Majesty allowed Rong Qingqing and Shangguan Yanran to enter the imperial carriage, and the Seventh Princess was also inside."
Situ Jin was stunned for a moment, then sneered, "It's amazing that he's so old and still has eyes for young girls. Has he been abstinent for too long and become so unrestrained?"
Granny Hong lowered her head; she dared not respond to those words.
Situ Jin was silent for a moment, his eyes dimmed slightly, and finally he closed them again, asking lazily, "Why did he let two young girls into his imperial carriage?"
"I heard that Rong Qingqing told a very interesting story. The Emperor was so captivated by it that he summoned her to the imperial carriage. I suppose the Emperor was tired and bored from his journey and wanted to have someone to talk to and relieve his boredom," said Granny Hong.
Upon hearing this, Situ Jin was somewhat surprised. "Isn't Rong Qingqing timid and cowardly, a good-for-nothing? When did she manage to catch his eye?"
Granny Hong shook her head. "This servant does not know."
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